Rules for leveling walls by beacons

One of the most important techniques in facade construction and renovation is wall leveling by beacons. For a polished appearance, whether you’re getting ready to paint, apply new siding, or apply other finishes, getting a smooth and even wall surface is essential.

The task is made easier by using beacons, which provide exact reference points along the wall’s surface. These beacons, which are usually movable rods or boards, are positioned and leveled in accordance with a predefined slope or height. They serve as a guide for evenly applying materials to the entire wall, such as render or plaster.

Preparing the wall surface thoroughly is crucial before beginning the leveling process. This entails clearing away any debris, fixing any fissures or flaws, and making sure the surface is dry and moisture-free. A sound and spotless base guarantees that the leveling material sticks correctly and produces a long-lasting finish.

The next step is to install the beacons after the wall is ready. Depending on the length and curvature of the wall, you should space them evenly every meter or so. To ensure accuracy, each beacon needs to be firmly fixed to the wall and raised or lowered using a level.

You can now apply the leveling material after the beacons have been installed and leveled appropriately. This could be plaster, mortar, or any other appropriate compound, based on the particular needs of your project. Spread the material evenly between the beacons using a trowel or other similar tool, filling in any voids or depressions to create a smooth surface.

To guarantee uniformity throughout the wall, periodically use a straightedge or another level to check the applied material’s levelness. After the material has dried or cured sufficiently—usually by adhering to the manufacturer’s recommended drying or curing times—you can take the beacons out and make any necessary tweaks to get a flawlessly smooth wall surface.

Achieving professional results in facade work requires mastery of the beacon-leveling technique. You can make sure that your walls are level and ready for the finishing touches that will improve the appearance and longevity of your facade by carefully following these steps and paying close attention to detail all along the way.

What you need to know

Lighthouse wall alignment is a laborious process that needs some knowledge and even experience on the part of the operator. However, there are no special justifications for declining to carry out this kind of work yourself, as it is fairly simple to comprehend the fundamentals of leveling a wall using lighthouses.

Despite what appear to be proper finishing and prep work, the walls in many apartments have a lot of flaws that show up as bumps. These flaws include strong rubble. If you apply a layer of plaster and use special lighthouses to align the walls on the walls, you can get rid of them.

How to choose a plaster mixture

When selecting finishing materials, you should avoid focusing too much on a single manufacturer. This will assist in preventing material incompatibilities as well as the emergence of numerous flaws and problems.

Plastering mixtures based on cement and gypsum are available in the Russian building materials market. Because they make it possible to apply a plaster layer up to five centimeters thick without creating cracks, gypsum plaster materials are highly sought after.

The gypsum mixture has a high plasticity indicator and is not susceptible to shrinkage. The best material for aligning a ceiling is a gypsum construction mixture because of its small weight and high adhesion. Gypsum, in contrast to cement composition, has the capacity to "breathe" and provides both sound and thermal insulation.

For aligning concrete smooth bases without the need for a reinforcing grid, the gypsum mixture is thought to be the ideal material.

The product made by the German company Knauf is the best gypsum-based construction mixture. However, consumers seek out more affordable materials from Russian manufacturers due to the high cost of these mixtures.

Since dry mixtures allow the master to independently select the appropriate consistency, they are regarded as superior to ready-made combinations. Russian grouts include the following: ready mixtures of RUSEAN; materials from T. D. Building MST MS; dry mixtures of the company prospectors; and mixtures from Mansurovsky joint-stock company MKU.

Not too long ago, a young construction company named Kostas introduced affordable grouting of European quality to the contemporary market.

The rules for choosing the beacons

Beacons are three-meter-long, specially-shaped metal strips that are attached to the surface of distorted walls and act as the primary guide for applying a uniform layer of plaster. On a changeable surface, they can be fixed by applying:

• self -tapping screws;
• dowel of nails;
• special elements of fasteners;
• mixtures for plaster.

Possible replacement

However, beacons bought from a building supply store are not required when plastering. These materials are easily interchangeable with them:

• flat metal strips;
• square -crossed metal profile;
• pipes;
• elongated self -tapping screws with hats.

Sometimes, basic plaster that is applied to the wall’s surface in a specific area and in small quantities (as islands) can be used to replace the beacons made under production conditions.

The performer first locates a point on the surface that protrudes more, and then adds a small amount of plaster mixture to that spot. A few more of these points are strictly vertically delayed from the obtained landmark. The plumb line can be used to calculate the lighthouse’s height, or the total distance between its top and the wall.

A person with specialized accuracy and increased attention to detail is needed to align walls by lighthouses. This process also needs to be done under the close supervision of an experienced builder. It’s also critical to consider how well the applied device resists the damaging effects of moisture that is released from the solution. This implies that the materials you use to make the beacons cannot be iron or wood because they are prone to corrosion.

Aluminum or galvanized iron pre-made beacons are of dependable quality. However, plastic cannot serve as a guide when it comes to leaking lighthouse-equipped walls. His fragility makes him insufficient to maintain the form and endure the combined pressure of the mixture and the tool. The best course of action in this case is to purchase pre-made beacons made of aluminum or galvanized iron.

These kinds of lighthouses are very practical to work with because they can be put on the surface using various fasteners and perforation, in addition to plaster.

Accurate wall leveling is essential for a smooth and polished finish when building or remodeling external walls. Applying plaster or siding is made easier and straightness is guaranteed when beacons are used properly. This article provides useful advice that anyone can use to improve the caliber and longevity of facade work. It covers the fundamental methods and policies for using beacons to create perfectly leveled walls.

Surface preparation for work

The old plaster must be removed all the way down to the base in order to plaster the walls effectively and precisely. If this is something you do not want to do, then you should examine the surface of the wall that has been processed more carefully to find any major flaws or areas where the plaster has fallen off. It is required to use the old coating in these areas.

You must first thoroughly inspect the wall’s entire surface. If significant deep depressions are seen, a plaster layer must be applied to lubricate them. There should be no variation in height between 5 and 12 millimeters; all cavities should be equal to the main surface. An ax is needed to seal off small ledges. However, you don’t have to rely on your eyes; instead, use a professional laser level or some basic threads for this.

Awnings that extend to the floor’s surface are attached to screws that are driven into the walls close to the ceiling. Pulling the horizontal thread—the ends of which will have sliding nodules—between them is necessary. It must be moved along the wall from top to bottom, marking any problematic areas with a pencil.

Preliminary preparation

Using a vacuum cleaner or broom, carefully clean the wall markings of any dirt or excess dust once the preparation phase is complete. Subsequently, a unique primer is applied to the wall to shield the surface from high humidity. Furthermore, the primer will shield the wall from developing mold and fungus. Depending on the material used to build the wall, a different primer will be chosen.

Plastering occasionally requires the use of a reinforcing grid, particularly in the kitchen or bathroom where unique ceramic tiles will adhere. This requirement also applies to plaster layers thicker than 10 millimeters. Utilizing unique dowels or applying it directly to the solution, the reinforcing mesh is fastened.

Lighthouses fastening

Not only do the beacons differ from one another, but so do the ways in which they are fastened. There are two ways to fix metal materials. In the first method, lighthouses are secured with dowels; in the second, a special solution is used. The user will need to use self-tapping screws in order to install beacons with dowels. For drilling holes and aligning with the rope, a specialized perforator is utilized. It is crucial to take the quantity of lighthouse racks into account.

Attaching metal beacons is done in accordance with a unique principle:

1. First, vertical markings are carried out in the form of lines, which are carried out at a distance of 80-100 centimeters from each other. At the same time, the first laid line should pass at a total distance of about twenty centimeters from the edge of the wall. To install it as evenly as possible, you should use a canopy or a building level.
2. Several holes at a total distance of 30 centimeters from each other are drilled along the installed extreme lines and with a depth of up to 8 millimeters. Dubels are driven into such holes, which coincide with them in width. You can apply an obsolete method that includes driving cho"s into the holes. After the screws are screwed after, but not to the end, which in the future will help to correctly adjust the level. The surface of the hats of self -tapping screws is aligned, and lighthouse fastenings are put on it on top of it, on which lighthouses are installed.
3. After fixing two vertical screws along the edges of the wall, you need to place a rope between them, which will indicate to the user to all noticeable protrusions. In the same way, other beacons are installed that are regulated by additional self -tapping screws. At the end of the installation of all lighthouses, you can start the wall decoration with plaster. This method is especially because it helps to quickly and easily adjust the overall thickness of the plaster.

A special building level, sand, cement, gypsum, and lighthouse rails are required in order to fix metal beacons with a solution. You can use the rule or the appropriate rail sizes to apply the marking. These instruments can easily and quickly determine the surface’s general curvature. Next, in order to shorten the drying time of the mixture, you should combine a thick mortar with sand and add gypsum to it.

All of the marking lines have a small amount of this mixture applied to them. She has the beacons attached to her. After assessing the wall by the construction level, lighthouses are installed. Once all the walls are aligned, another layer of solution is applied for complete fastening. The same principle is used to fill in the middle lines. Although such work is theoretically very simple, it can be challenging to perform without specific training and experience.

Elimination of lighthouses

The following sequence should be followed in order to remove cement beacons:

1. A distance of thirty centimeters retreat from the ceiling and walls and drive a nail in the resulting place, whose hat is from the wall at a distance equal to the thickness of the plaster layer. The canopy is attached to the nail and descends, at an altitude of 10 cm from the floor. The second nail is clogged about twenty centimeters from the floor on the section of the cord.
2. The same acts with the lighthouse on the second side. After driving all four nails, you should pull the ropes between them so that they do not touch the wall. If there are still some points of contact, then the nail should be slightly pulled out and installed in a new position, using the canopies for this. The middle beacons will be installed in the same way.
3. After you need to create a solution and apply it to the nails themselves, so that it completely hides their hats. After solidifying the solution, with a knife, you need to remove all the excess. When the beacons are completely ready, they need to put the rule on them, and fill the space under them with a special mixture. After the hardening begins, the rule is eliminated. As a result, you get a completely flat surface from the solution in the form of strips, along which the walls will pass the plastering.

For any facade renovation project, leveling walls with beacons is an essential step in guaranteeing a smooth and even surface. Proper beacon placement reduces the chance of uneven surfaces and enhances the appearance of your house overall by providing reference points for the application of siding or plaster.

First and foremost, it is crucial to prepare the walls by cleaning and making sure they are clear of debris. This first action lays the groundwork for precise beacon positioning. After cleaning, mark and measure the locations of each beacon to make sure they are distributed uniformly across the wall surface.

Secondly, make sure the beacons are level and firmly fixed when positioning them. Verify their alignment both vertically and horizontally with a spirit level. This accuracy is vital because, after the plaster or siding is installed, it determines how level the entire wall will be.

Thirdly, modify each beacon’s height to accommodate the desired siding or plaster thickness. This modification guarantees consistency in the depth of application, avoiding variations that may impact the facade’s ultimate appearance.

Finally, as you work, make sure the beacons are aligned on a regular basis. To ensure accuracy, adjustments might be required, particularly on larger walls or surfaces with uneven surfaces. By taking the time to double-check, you can be sure that your finished facade will be strong structurally and aesthetically.

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